If you’re an AT&T customer whose data was compromised in the company’s breaches of 2019 and/or 2024, now is your chance to take action. The deadline to file a claim in the $177 million class action settlement has been extended to December 18. If you haven’t filed yet, you have just under a week to secure your claim.
The first breach occurred in March 2024 when sensitive customer data appeared on the dark web. AT&T acknowledged that personal details, including addresses, Social Security numbers, and account passcodes dating back to 2019 were compromised. As if that wasn’t concerning enough, a larger breach was uncovered late in 2024. This incident affected nearly all AT&T customers, exposing telephone numbers, calls, and texts between May 1 and October 31, 2022, and then again on January 3, 2023. Millions were impacted.
A class-action lawsuit was brought against AT&T, and the courts ruled in June that the company would distribute $177 million to affected customers who had accounts between 2019 and 2024. Claims were categorized into two classes: those affected by the March 2024 breach will share $149 million, while the second class, affected by the larger breach, will share $28 million. Direct payments were made first to customers who suffered verified financial losses—up to $5,000 for the initial breach and $2,500 for the latter. This means that impacted individuals who didn’t lose funds can now share in what remains of the settlement fund.
How much money is available in the AT&T settlement?
If you suffered actual financial loss due to either breach, you could potentially receive up to $7,500. However, these larger payments were prioritized and processed early. AT&T was supposed to notify qualifying individuals directly, so be sure to check your spam folder for emails from Kroll Settlement Administration LLC or the address [email protected]. Expectation management is key here: after payments to those with documented financial losses, the remaining funds will be dispersed among a larger group.
To give you a frame of reference, many class action settlements can result in payouts of less than $30. Previous tech settlements have shown that final compensation may vary widely.
How to claim your AT&T settlement money
The deadline to submit your claim is also December 18, so act quickly! Affected customers should have received a notice detailing their eligibility, which includes a Class Member ID. If you wished to opt out of the settlement or object to your classification, that required a separate request sent by mail by November 17. The final approval hearing for the settlement is scheduled for January 15.
To initiate your claim, visit the settlement website. You’ll be required to fill out the claim form using your Class Member ID along with your contact information, AT&T account number, and possibly your payment details for direct deposit.
Who is eligible for the AT&T settlement?
The eligibility criteria depend on which class you fall into:
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For Class 1: Any living individual whose personal information was exposed during the March incident.
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For Class 2: AT&T account holders whose numbers or communications were compromised during the second breach.
How much money will I get in AT&T settlement?
The actual payout amount won’t be definitive until all claims are processed. For context, in a recent Amazon settlement, customers were expected to receive up to $42.86, while other tech settlements have ranged between $30 to $60. Payments will also consider the severity of the data that was compromised.
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For Class 1: Those with exposed Social Security Numbers (Tier 1) will receive five times the amount compared to those in Tier 2 who had less sensitive information exposed.
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For Class 2: Individuals who cannot provide evidence of financial loss will be placed in Tier 3 and will receive a share of the leftover settlement funds.
If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to call the settlement hotline at (833) 890-4930 or visit the settlement website for more information.
Topics
AT&T
Cybersecurity
